Disney's First Black Princess Debuts at Magic Kingdom

Visitors to the Magic Kingdom on Monday, October 26th got a first glimpse of Disney's newest, and only, black princess.

Princess Tiana, the lead character from Disney's newest animated feature film, "The "Princess and the Frog" began meeting and greeting guests of the park in front of Cinderella's Castle.

The park celebrated the arrival of the New Orleans-based characters by throwing a parade, complete with "festively dressed revelers" and bead-tossing, leading up to the Liberty Belle Riverboat dock. Once there, Princess Tiana and crew entertained the crowd with a production of "Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!", a 15 minute live musical show on board a Mardi-Gras themed riverboat. The show, which runs until the beginning of January, includes festive jazz music, daytime pyrotechnics, and a chance to get on stage to dance with the cast.

Watch the meet and greet here:



The film, which reverts back to pre-Pixar 2-D animation, is the company's first to feature a black princess. While the plot is loosely based on the Grimm Brothers' classic tale, "The Frog Prince", Disney has given the story a modern twist. An official Disney press release describes the movie as a "hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana" set in New Orleans' French Quarter during the jazz age. Watch the film's trailer here.

Both the film and the theme park character promise to provide a good role model for little girls around the world who previously went unrepresented.

"I have to imagine that it is just beyond thrilling for them. She is a great character, she's inspiring, she's smart, she's strong. I think that's wonderful, not only for young African-American girls but for young girls," Disney Show Director Tara Anderson told Central Florida News on Monday.

"The Princess and the Frog", which is slated to open nationwide December 11th, will star Anika Noni Rose (seen in 2006's "Dreamgirls") as the voice of the ground-breaking princess. Oprah Winfrey, Terrence Howard, and John Goodman have also contributed their voices to the film.